Bottom edge seal for movable space divider panels

ABSTRACT

A movable space divider panel supported from an overhead track arrangement includes a bottom edge seal capable of moving upwardly or downwardly relative to the panel body to accommodate for any local unevenness in the floor thereby to maintain an effective sound barrier between the bottom of the panel and the floor surface at all times. The seal is supported on the floor by wheels or castors or a low friction slide arrangement. A body of foam is disposed between the panel body and the seal which acts to urge the seal towards the floor. The foam also acts as a sound insulator.

United States Patent Elhen 1 1 Oct. 2 1973 [54] BOTTOM EDGE SEAL FORMOVABLE 3,126,050 3/1964 Lapof 160/40 SPACE DIVIDER PANELS 2,537,2961/1951 Yeakel 49/306 3,380,506 4/1968 Good ct al.... 160/40 [75] In n r:K rl h Montreal, Quebec. 3,241,197 3/1966 Gogerty 49 127 x Canada [73]Assignee: Moderniold of Canada Limited, St. Primary ExaminerJ. Karl BellLambert, Quebec, Canada Atmrney-Marechal, Biebel, French & Bugg [22]Filed: Oct. 1, 1970 1211 Appl. No.: 77,262 1 v ABSTRACT A movable spacedivider panel supported from an over- [30] Foreign Application PriorityData head track arrangement includes a bottom edge seal Oct 30 1969Canada 66 257 capable of moving upwardly or downwardly relative to thepanel body to accommodate for any local uneven- [52] Cl I I 160/4049/l27 49,306 ness in the floor thereby to maintain an effective sound51 1m.c1...:...:...:1..:....: l .T E06b 7/20 barrier between the bottomof the Panel and [58] Field of Search" 13,0 303 surface at all times.The seal is supported on the floor 307 6 by wheels or castors or a lowfriction slide arrangement. A body of foam is disposed between the panel[56] References Cited body and the seal which acts to urge the sealtowards UNITED STATES PATENTS the floor. The foam also acts as a soundinsulator. 3,583,101 6/1971 Pudenz 49/306 X 26 Claims, 5 Drawing Figurest %L 4 V X MA LO I y I I M A n v i I 4 4--\ 7 I PAIENTEUBBT 2191a SHEET1 or 4 INVENTOR KARL C. E LHEN PAIENIED 3.762.460

SHEET 2 [IF 4 BOTTOM EDGE SEAL FOR MOVABLE SPACE DIVIDER PANELSINTRODUCTION This invention relates to improvements of movable spacedivider structures of the type formed from a plurality of panelsarranged for coplanar positioning, the panels being movable into astacked storage position when the divider is not in use.

The panels of the movable space divider structures under considerationare supported by suitable means from an overhead track arrangement formovement therealong and the panels may or may not be hingedlyinterconnected one to another. When they are hingedly connected, thehinged connections may be between pairs of said panels; alternatively acontinuous hinged arrangement of panels may be used wherein the panelsare connected together in series at their edges by hinges.

Space dividers of the coplanar panel type are often referred to asoperable walls in that they function to provide a movable wall sectionfor space isolation purposes. Such structures must be capable ofproviding a relatively high sound transmission loss function since theprimary purpose for using such structures is to provide proper soundinsulation. With such structures an attempt is made to approach thesound insulating advantages of a fixed wall while retaining mobility.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION With the movable wall type divider beingintended as a substitute for a fixed rigid wall construction, the massand weight of the divider must be confined within limits permittingready movement of the panels thereof into and out of operative spacedividing relation. The prior art, in particular the structure shown inCanadian Pat. No. 761,743 of Charles R. Good et al. illustrates theconstruction of divider panels capable of-providing adequate soundtransmission loss characteristics in the speech privacy range whilebeing sufficiently light in weight as to be readily movable by handwithout the use of power operating means. The prior art also teachesthat structural rigidity in movable panels is essential while at thesame time acoustical limpness of the materials used is important toavoid diaphragm action in response to the impingement of soundvibrations thereon.

In addition to the problems of selective combination and fabrication ofvarious materials in order to achieve the desired sound insulatingproperties, the establishing and maintaining of an efficient sound sealabove, below and along the sides of each panel is essential to efficientuse of a divider as a sound barrier. Peripheral leakage can make eventhe most efficient panel construction ineffective. Peripheral sealingarrangements cannot be unduly complex as ease of movement of the panelsinto and out of operative position is an important consideration of theeffectiveness of a space divider of this type. Improved peripheralsealing arrangements are described in the above mentioned patent ofCharles R. Good et al. This patent shows one form of device for helpingto ensure an efficient sound seal between the panels when they arearranged in coplanar relation which includes means for forcing thepanels into end engaging relation with one another longitudinally of theassembly thereby causing the panels to engage one another closely alongtheir vertical margins. Since the vertical margins of the panels areprovided with resilient sealing or gasketing means, a relativelyefficient sound transmission sealing effect between the panels isproduced.

While the prior art provides quite efficient sealing arrangements forthe vertical marginal edges of the panels, the sealing arrangementscommonly provided along the bottom edges of the panels to provide soundbarriers between the panels and the floor leave something to be desired.The most common form of bottom edge sealing arrangement includeselongated strips of flexible material secured to the lower edges of thepanel in such a way that the strips bridge the gaps between the panelsand the floor with the free lowermost edges of the strips contacting thefloor surface. This arrangement functions reasonably well when the floorsurface is perfectly level and uniform and perfectly parallel to theoverhead track from which the panels are supported or suspended.However, these conditions are seldom encountered in practice. Mostfloors tend to be more or less uneven and in floors of large area,differences in floor elevation in the order of one or even a few inchesare often encountered. Under such conditions, it is obvious that thesimple bottom edge sealing arrangement described above is ineffectivefor its intended purpose.

THE INVENTION The present invention, in one aspect, provides improvedmovable space divider panels each including a panel body portion adaptedto be suspended from an overhead track arrangement and having a bottomedge sealing arrangement capable of moving upwardly or downwardlyrelative to the panel body and disposed adjacent the lower edge portionsof the latter. As each panel body portion is moved along the overheadtrack from which it is suspended the sealing arrangement moves upwardlyor downwardly to accommodate for any local unevenness of the floorthereby to maintain an effective sound barrier between the bottom of thepanel and the floor surface at all times. The seal arrangement isprovided with means for supporting the same on the floor so that theseal moves upwardly or downwardly in accordance with changes in theelevation of the floor while permitting ready movement of each paneloverthe floor. The seal support means may conveniently comprise wheels orcasters to rollingly support the seal means on the floor; alternatively,a low-friction slide block arrangement may be used. In the preferredembodiment the sealing arrangement includes a body of resilient orspongy foam material which is interposed between the panel body and thesealing arrangement which acts as a spring thereby to continually urgethe sealing arrangement towards the floor to effect close engagement ofthe sealing arrangement therewith. The foam material also serves to actas a sound transmission barrier to further reduce sound transmissionbetween the panel body and the surface of the floor.

THE DRAWINGS A fuller understanding of the invention will be had fromthe following description of a preferred embodiment of same whereinreference is made to drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a movable space divider structureincorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the structure of FIG. I with thestacked positions of the panels being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation view of the lower left hand corner ofone of the panels shown in FIG. 1 with portions of the panel cut away toshow the interior structure;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view taken along line 4-4 inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan section view of one end of the panel structure takenalong line 55 in FIG. 4;

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT FIG. 1 illustrates the movable space dividerstructure as comprising a plurality of flat panels arranged as hingedlyinterconnected pairs disposed in coplanar relation. Each panel 10 issupported by a trolley assembly 14 suitably connected to a top portionof each panel, with the trolley assemblies riding on an overheadrecessed track assembly 16 disposed within a ceiling structure 18 whichserves to conceal the truck and trolley assemblies and through whicheach of the trolley assemblies 14 downwardly extend for interconnectionto respective ones of each of the panels. Extending between'the ceilingpanel structure 18 and a floor structure 20 are fixed jamb posts 22 and24 which define the opposing ends of the space within which the spacedivider is received thus completing the structure surrounding thedivider structure.

FIG. 2 illustrates the divider structure in a partly folded position infull lines and in broken lines shows the stacking positions of the pairsof panels when the space divider is in its inoperative position.Suitable handles (not shown) may be provided on the panels 10 tofacilitate their movement into the folded position as controlled bymovement of their respective trolley assemblies 14 along track assembly16.

Suitable devices may be provided to force the panels 10 into endengaging relation with one another longitudinally of the assembly whenthey are in co-planar relation with one another to cause the panels toengage one another closely along their vertical margins thus preventingsound leakage therebetween. Suitable devices for achieving this aredisclosed in the above mentioned Charles R. Good patent.

GENERAL PANEL CONSTRUCTION Each panel 10 comprises a body portion 26 anda bottom edge seal assembly 28 disposed at the bottom edge of each paneland arranged to bridge the gap which would exist, in the absence of sealassembly 28, between the lower edge of panel body 26 and the surface offloor 20.

The body portion of each panel is of generally conventional constructionand includes a pair of spaced, parallel, co-extensive planar face plates30, preferably of sheet steel, selected to provide acoustical limpnessand structural rigidity. The outer faces of plates 30 are suitablycoated to render same attractive in appearance. Rigidity is furtherassured by a marginal frame structure including vertically spaced upperand lower U-channel members 32 (see FIG. 4) and longitudinally spacedvertical U-channel members 34 extending the full height of the panelbody (one of which is shown in FIG. 5). Each of the above mentionedchannel members is interposed between face plates 30 adjacent arespectively associated marginal edge of each face plate and is rigidlysecured thereto by suitable fasteners (not shown). Frame members 32 and34 are themselves fastened together at the four corners of the frameassembly by suitable brackets or by welding (not shown). The spacebetween the face plates 30 is occupied by a glass fibre blanket 36 whichacts to cut down sound transmission through the panel body 26. Panelbody 26 is connected at its uppermost end to one of the trolleys 14 inconventional fashion and is suspended thereby in the manner well knownin the art.

BOTTOM EDGE SEAL ASSEMBLY Each bottom edge seal assembly 28, as seen inFIG. 1, extends the full length of the bottom edge of the panel body andis supported on the floor 20 by means of a spaced apart pair of swivelcasters 38. The casters 38 are normally hidden from view, but in FIGS. 1and 3 part of the structure has been cut away to expose them. Casters 38permit freedom of movement of the panels across the floor surface andalso prevent damage to the finished surface of same as the panels aremoved along the overhead support track 16, while at the same time thecasters and their associated seal assemblies move upwardly anddownwardly relative to their associated panel bodies in response tolocal unevenness in the floor and/or lack of parallelism between thefloor and the overhead track 16. Local unevenness in floor 20 isillustrated, in somewhat exaggerated form, in FIG. 1. Each seal assembly28, as seen in FIG. 4, (which is a section view normal to thelongitudinal axis of the panel) includes a generallyU-shaped-in-cross-section shell 40 including a base 42 and a spaced pairof flanges 43 connected thereto and extending upwardly for a shortdistance in closely spacd overlapping or telescoping relation to thelower portions of face plates 30 of panel body 26 such that shell 40, ineffect, embraces the entire bottom edge portion of its associated panelbody. The inwardly facing surface of each flange 43 is shown as coveredwith a sheet of chipboard or pressed wood 44 for sound isolationpurposes while the outwardly facing surfaces of same are provided with asuitable covering or coating so as to render the same attractive inappearance.

In order to accommodate the casters 38, suitably spaced apertures areprovided in the base 42 of shell 40. Caster mounting brackets 46 aresecured to base 42 as shown in FIG. 3 and are shaped to provide recessesin the bottom of shell 40 within which the casters are partiallydisposed, with casters 38, in turn, being each secured to a respectiveone of the brackets. Each bracket being of a generally inverted U-shapedconfiguration, permits the lowermost portions of shell 40 to be disposedquite close to the surface of floor 20 thus further reducing the amountof sound transmitted therebetween while permitting casters 38 to be of areasonable and adequate size to bear the loads encountered during use.

In order to guide the shell 40 and its associated structure upwardly ordownwardly relative to panel body 26, a pair of spaced guide members 48are provided, each connected to a respective one of the opposing endportions of shell 40 at the base 42 of the latter by rivets S1 or thelike and extending vertically upwardly in juxtaposition to and slidingrelation with an associated one of the vertically disposed U-channelmarginal frame members 34 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each guidemember 48 is preferably of U-channel cross section to provide thenecessary rigidity, and is dimensioned so as to have a free sliding fitwithin the outwardly facing groove defined by each of the verticalU-channel frame members 34. Guide members 48 each have an elongated slot50 formed therein which co-operates with an associated stop screw 52passing through the slot and threaded into its associated vertical framemember 34. Guide members 48 therefore, in co-operation with verticalframe members 34, guide the shell assembly 40 upwardly or downwardlybetween fixed limits determined by slot 50 and pin 52 relative to thepanel body 26 in a predetermined path of travel.

Disposed between the lower edge of panel body 26 as defined by lowerchannel member 32 and base 42 of the shell 40 of the bottom edge sealassembly is a body 54 of resilient plastic or rubber spongy foammaterial. Foam body 54 substantially fills the space existing betweenshell 40 and the lower edge of panel body 26 except, of course, thatnarrow clearance spaces are left to avoid undue friction between the.foam and other parts of the assembly. The foam body serves two mainfunctions; it further reduces sound transmission between the lower edgeof the panel body, and it acts to resiliently urge the bottom edge sealassembly 28 towards the floor thereby ensuring that its casters 38remain in contact with and follow the contours of the floor at alltimes. The foam body is selected such that the amount of forcetransmitted therethrough to shell 40 is relatively small at all times.If the foam body is too stiff and rigid an undesirably great amount offorce may be transmitted therethrough which could overload the castersand damage same. In other words, the foam body is arranged such thatmost of the weight of panel body 26 is carried by the overhead track 18with only a small portion of its weight being transmitted through thefoam to shell 40 and casters 38.

In order to complete the bottom edge seal arrangement, a flexible floorengaging or sweeper" seal 56 is affixed to each of the longitudinallyextending lower edges of the shell 40 thereby to bridge the relativelysmall gap remaining between the latter and the floor surface. Each floorengaging seal 56 includes a support channel 58 suitably secured to shell40 and a flexible seal 60 per se of any suitable cross-sectionalconfiguration.

OTHER SEALING DEVICES Sealing means are also provided along the top andon the vertical marginal edges of each complete panel to provide aneffective barrier against sound transmission. The top edge sealing means60 is shown in FIG. 4 and comprises flexible finger seals 61 secured insuitable channels 62 disposed along the longitudinal edges of a paneltop closure plate 64. The tips of finger seals 61 contact the previouslymentioned ceiling structure 18 thereby reducing sound transmissionbetween the latter and the top of the panel.

The opposing vertical edges defined by the ends of the shell 40 of thebottom edge seal 28 are also provided with flexible finger seals 66secured in channel members suitably affixed to shell 40 (see FIGS. 3 and5). When panels 10 are in end-to-end abutting relation with oneanotherthe finger seals 66 of the bottom end sealing devices come into contactwith one another.

To complete the sealing arrangement, the opposing vertical marginaledges of each panel body 26 are provided with seals, a typical seal 68being seen in FIG. 5. A seal 68 is provided on the trailing verticaledge of each panel 10, which seal includes an elongated member 70extending the full height of the panel body and secured thereto. Member70 defines a groove 72 adapted to receive a tongue of correspondingcross sectional shape (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5) attached to theleading vertical edge of the panel body next adjacent thereto. Groove 72has a pair of inwardly converging side walls 74 each having an elongatedchannel therein each carrying a flexible sealing strip 76 which extendsthe full length of its associated groove. Each strip 76 includes a pairof flexible lip portions 78 which extend into the central portion of thegroove thereby to engage opposing sides of the tongue portion of thepanel next adjacent thereto when the panels 10 are in co-planar endengaging relation. In this fashion, an effective sound barrier betweenthe marginal edges of the panels is provided.

I claim:

1. A space divider panel of the type adapted to be supported over afloor surface from an overhead trolley and track arrangement and broughtinto end-engaging relation with another panel of the same or similarconstruction to provide a barrier against the transmission of sound fromone region of a space to another, said panel comprising: a panel bodyportion of a sound insulating construction adapted to be suspended froman overhead trolley and track arrangement in a generally uprightposition, and a bottom edge seal means mounted to said panel bodyportion such that said seal means is disposed along that edge of thepanel body portion which is lowermost when the panel is in its uprightassembled position, the bottom edge seal means including means adaptedto continually contact the floor surface and to continually support thebottom edge seal means on the floor while permitting freedom of movementof the panel over the floor when the panel is moved along the overheadtrack assembly, the bottom edge seal means being mounted to said panelbody portion such that it is free to move up and down relative to thepanel body portion in response to said floor surface contacting meansencountering local unevenness in the floor and/or lack of parallelismbetween the floor surface and the support track used for supporting thepanel body portion as said panel is moved along the overhead trackarrangement with the bottom edge seal means being so constructed andbeing so related to the means for continually contacting the floorsurface, that said bottom edge seal means continually bridges and formsa sound barrier across the gap that would exist, in the absence of thebottom edge seal, between said lowermost edge of the panel body and thesurface of the floor during said movement of the panel along saidoverhead track assembly and means comprising a resilient elongated bodyof a sound absorbing or deadening material disposed between said panelbody portion and the bottom edge seal means and extending substantiallythe full length of the bottom edge seal means to urge the latter towardsthe floor surface and to bring said floor contacting means into intimateengagement with the floor surface.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said resilient bodycomprises a body of .spongy sound insulating foam material.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the means for continuallycontacting the floor surface comprises means to rollingly support saidbottom edge seal means on the floor.

4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the panel body is ofgenerally planar configuration and includes opposing planar faces andwherein said bottom edge seal means includes portions extending inoverlapping relation with respect to portions of said planar faces andfreely movable with respect thereto thereby to assist in reducing soundtransmission between said bottom edge seal means and the panel bodyportion.

5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the panel body is ofgenerally planar configuration and includes opposing planar faces andwherein said bottom edge seal means includes a shell of a generally U-shaped configuration as seen in a section view taken normal to thelength of the seal means with the panel body arranged such that thoseportions of the latter which are lowermost when the panel is verticallydisposed are over lapped and embraced by said shell, said body of spongyfoam material being disposed between the lowermost edge of the panelbody and a lower portion of the shell to form a sound insulating barriertherebetween.

6. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the bottom edge seal meansincludes means adapted to cooperate in telescoping relation with saidedge of the panel body which is lowermost.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein the means for continuallycontacting the floor surface comprises means to rollingly support saidbottom edge seal means on the floor.

8. The structure according to claim 8 wherein said bottom edge sealmeans includes a shell of a generally U-shaped configuration as seen ina section view taken normal to the length of the seal means with thepanel body arranged such that those portions of the latter which arelowermost when the panel is vertically disposed are embraced by saidshell, said body of material being disposed between the lowermost edgeof the panel body and a lower portion of the shell to form a soundinsulating barrier therebetween, said lower portion of the shell havingrecesses therein within which the rolling bottom edge seal support meansare partially disposed thus permitting said shell to be disposed closelyto the floor surface to reduce sound transmission therebetween andwherein said shell includes at least one flexible sealing stripconnected thereto and extending longitudinally thereof and disposed forengagement with a floor surface whereby to bridge the remaining gapbetween the floor surface and the lowermost portions of the shell whenthe panel is in its upright assembled condition.

9. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the bottom edge seal meansincludes at least one flexible sealing strip connected thereto andextending longitudinally thereof and disposed for engagement with afloor surface when the panel is in its upright assembled condition.

10. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said bottom edge sealmeans includes guide means associated therewith, said panel body portionhaving means associated therewith receiving said guide means for up anddown movement of the latter with respect thereto, and stop meansassociated with said guide means to define the limits of travel of theguide means and bottom edge seal means with respect to the panel bodyportion.

11. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said panel body portionincludes marginal frame members extending the height of the bodyportion, guide means connected to the bottom edge seal means andextending in juxtaposition to and sliding relation with associated onesof said frame members, and pin and slot means associated with the framemembers and guide means for defining the limits of travel of the bottomedge seal with respect to the body portion.

12. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said panel body portionincludes marginal frame members extending the height of the bodyportion, guide means connected to the bottom edge seal means andextending in juxtaposition to and sliding relation with associated onesof said frame members, and pin and slot means associated with the framemembers and guide means for defining the limits of travel of the bottomedge seal with respect to the body portion, wherein the bottom edge sealmeans includes a shell of a generally U-shaped configuration as seen ina section view taken normal to the length of the seal means with thepanel body arranged such that those portions of the latter which arelowermost when the panel is vertically disposed are embraced by saidshell, with one each of said guide means being associated with arespective one of the opposing ends of said shell.

13. The structure according to claim 2 wherein sealing strips aredisposed along the edges of the panel which come, in use, into endengaging relation with other panels thereby to reduce the transmissionof sound therebetween.

14. The combination of an overhead track and trolley arrangement and aseries of space divider panels vertically supported by said track andtrolley arrangement, said panels adapted to be brought into end engagingrelation with one another to provide a barrier against the transmissionof sound from one region to another, at least a plurality of said panelseach comprising a panel body portion of a sound insulating constructionsecured to and suspended from the track and trolley arrangement and abottom edge seal means disposed along the lowermost edge portion of thepanel body portion; the bottom edge seal means including means forcontinually contacting the floor surface and continuously supporting thebottom edge seal means on the floor while permitting freedom of movementof the panel over the floor as the panel is shifted along the overheadtrack assembly, the bottom edge seal means further being arranged suchthat it is free to move up and down relative to its associated panelbody portion in response to the floor surface contacting meansencountering unevenness in the floor and/or lack of parallelism betweenthe floor surface and the overhead track arrangement, with the bottomedge seal means being so constructed and being so related to the meansfor continually contacting the floor surface that said bottom edge sealmeans continually bridges and forms a sound barrier across the gap thatwould exist, in the absence of the bottom edge seal, between saidlowermost edge of the panel body and the surface of the floor duringsaid movement of the panel along said overhead track assembly and meanscomprising a resilient elongated body of a sound absorbing or deadeningmaterial disposed between said panel body portion and the bottom edgeseal means and extending substantially the full length of the bottomedge seal means to urge the latter towards the floor surface.

15. The structure according to claim 14 wherein said resilient bodycomprises spongy sound insulating foam material.

16. The structure according to claim 15 wherein the means forcontinually contacting the floor surface comprises means to rollinglysupport said bottom edge seal means on the floor.

17. The structure according to claim 14 wherein the panel body is ofgenerally planar configuration and includes opposing planar faces andwherein said bottom edge seal means includes portions extending inoverlapping relation with respect to portions of said planar faces andmovable with respect thereto, said portions extending in overlappingrelation having sound insulating material thereon thereby to reducesound transmission between said bottom edge seal means and the panelbody portion.

18. The structure according to claim 14 wherein the panel body is ofgenerally planar configuration and includes opposing planar faces andwherein said bottom edge seal means includes a shell of a generally U-shaped configuration as seen in a section view taken normal to thelength of the seal means with the panel body arranged such that thoseportions of the latter which are lowermost are over lapped and embracedby said shell said body of material being disposed between the lowermostedge of the panel body and a lower portion of the shell to form a soundinsulating barrier therebetween.

19. The structure according to claim 15 wherein the bottom edge sealmeans includes means adapted to cooperate in telescoping relation withsaid edge of the panel body which is lowermost.

20. The structure according to claim 19 wherein the means for contactingthe fioor surface comprises means to rollingly support said bottom edgeseal means on the floor.

21. The structure according to claim 20 wherein said bottom edge sealmeans includes a shell of a generally U-shaped configuration as seen ina section taken normal to the length of the seal means with the panelbody arranged such that those portions of the latter which are lowermostare embraced by said shell, said body of spongy foam material beingdisposed between the lowermost edge of the panel body and a lowerportion of the shell to form a sound insulating barrier therebetween,said lower portion of the shell having recesses therein within which therolling bottom edge seal support means are partially disposed thuspermitting said shell to be disposed closely to the floor surface toreduce sound transmission therebetween and wherein said shell includesat least one flexible sealing strip connected thereto and extendinglongitudinally thereof and disposed for engagement with a floor surfacewhereby to bridge the remaining gap between the floor surface and thelowermost portions of the shell when the panel is in its uprightassembled condition.

22. The structure according to claim 14 wherein the bottom edge sealmeans includes at least one flexible sealing strip connected thereto andextending longitudinally thereof and disposed for engagement with thefloor surface when the panel is in its upright assembled condition.

23. The structure according to claim 15 wherein said bottom edge sealmeans includes guide means associated therewith, said panel body portionhaving means associated therewith receiving said guide means for up anddown movement of the latter with respect thereto, and stop meansassociated with said guide means to define the limits of travel of theguide means and bottom edge seal means with respect to the panel bodyportion.

24. The structure according to claim 14 wherein said panel body portionincludes marginal frame members extending the height of the bodyportion, guide means connected to the bottom edge seal means andextending in juxtaposition to and sliding relation with associated onesof said frame members, and pin and slot means associated with the framemembers and guide means for defining the limits of travel of the bottomedge seal with respect to the body portion.

25. The structure according to claim 15 wherein said panel body portionincludes marginal frame members extending the height of the bodyportion, guide means connected to the bottom edge seal means andextending in juxtaposition to and sliding relation with associated onesof said frame members, and pin and slot means associated with the framemembers and guide means for defining the limits of travel of the bottomedge seal with respect to the body portion, wherein the bottom edge sealmeans includes a shell of a generally U-shaped configuration as seen ina section taken normal to the length of the seal means with the panelbody arranged such that those portions of the latter which are lowermostare embraced by said shell, with one each of said guide means beingassociated with a respective one of the opposing ends of said shell.

26. The structure according to claim 15 wherein sealing strips aredisposed along the edges of the panel which come, in use, into endengaging relation with other panels thereby to reduce the transmissionof sound therebetween.

- fifJNITLD STATE S PATII NTi OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION p -j 3,72,460 Dated October 2", 19.73

, Karl C. Elhen Inventor(s) .It is certified that error appears in theaboyidefitifid patent ehd that said Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown below:

fs gne ir hd sealed this zoth'da ofqpl 1974;

- 7 V (sEALf Attest:: i

(MCCOY M.i 31 1s0N,- JR CQMARSHALIL-DANN Attesting Officer. Commissionerof Patents

1. A space divider panel of the type adapted to be supported over afloor surface from an overhead trolley and track arrangement and broughtinto end-engaging relation with another panel of the same or similarconstruction to provide a barrier against the transmission of sound fromone region of a space to another, said panel comprising: a panel bodyportion of a sound insulating construction adapted to be suspended froman overhead trolley and track arrangement in a generally uprightposition, and a bottom edge seal means mounted to said panel bodyportion such that said seal means is disposed along that edge of thepanel body portion which is lowermost when the panel is in its uprightassembled position, the bottom edge seal means including means adaptedto continually contact the floor surface and to continually support thebottom edge seal means on the floor while permitting freedom of movementof the panel over the floor when the panel is moved along the overheadtrack assembly, the bottom edge seal means being mounted to said panelbody portion such that it is free to move up and down relative to thepanel body portion in response to said floor surfacE contacting meansencountering local unevenness in the floor and/or lack of parallelismbetween the floor surface and the support track used for supporting thepanel body portion as said panel is moved along the overhead trackarrangement with the bottom edge seal means being so constructed andbeing so related to the means for continually contacting the floorsurface, that said bottom edge seal means continually bridges and formsa sound barrier across the gap that would exist, in the absence of thebottom edge seal, between said lowermost edge of the panel body and thesurface of the floor during said movement of the panel along saidoverhead track assembly and means comprising a resilient elongated bodyof a sound absorbing or deadening material disposed between said panelbody portion and the bottom edge seal means and extending substantiallythe full length of the bottom edge seal means to urge the latter towardsthe floor surface and to bring said floor contacting means into intimateengagement with the floor surface.
 2. The structure according to claim 1wherein said resilient body comprises a body of spongy sound insulatingfoam material.
 3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the meansfor continually contacting the floor surface comprises means torollingly support said bottom edge seal means on the floor.
 4. Thestructure according to claim 1 wherein the panel body is of generallyplanar configuration and includes opposing planar faces and wherein saidbottom edge seal means includes portions extending in overlappingrelation with respect to portions of said planar faces and freelymovable with respect thereto thereby to assist in reducing soundtransmission between said bottom edge seal means and the panel bodyportion.
 5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the panel body isof generally planar configuration and includes opposing planar faces andwherein said bottom edge seal means includes a shell of a generallyU-shaped configuration as seen in a section view taken normal to thelength of the seal means with the panel body arranged such that thoseportions of the latter which are lowermost when the panel is verticallydisposed are over lapped and embraced by said shell, said body of spongyfoam material being disposed between the lowermost edge of the panelbody and a lower portion of the shell to form a sound insulating barriertherebetween.
 6. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the bottomedge seal means includes means adapted to co-operate in telescopingrelation with said edge of the panel body which is lowermost.
 7. Thestructure according to claim 6 wherein the means for continuallycontacting the floor surface comprises means to rollingly support saidbottom edge seal means on the floor.
 8. The structure according to claim8 wherein said bottom edge seal means includes a shell of a generallyU-shaped configuration as seen in a section view taken normal to thelength of the seal means with the panel body arranged such that thoseportions of the latter which are lowermost when the panel is verticallydisposed are embraced by said shell, said body of material beingdisposed between the lowermost edge of the panel body and a lowerportion of the shell to form a sound insulating barrier therebetween,said lower portion of the shell having recesses therein within which therolling bottom edge seal support means are partially disposed thuspermitting said shell to be disposed closely to the floor surface toreduce sound transmission therebetween and wherein said shell includesat least one flexible sealing strip connected thereto and extendinglongitudinally thereof and disposed for engagement with a floor surfacewhereby to bridge the remaining gap between the floor surface and thelowermost portions of the shell when the panel is in its uprightassembled condition.
 9. The structure according to claim 1 wherein thebottom edge seal means includes at least one flexible sealing stripconnected thereto anD extending longitudinally thereof and disposed forengagement with a floor surface when the panel is in its uprightassembled condition.
 10. The structure according to claim 1 wherein saidbottom edge seal means includes guide means associated therewith, saidpanel body portion having means associated therewith receiving saidguide means for up and down movement of the latter with respect thereto,and stop means associated with said guide means to define the limits oftravel of the guide means and bottom edge seal means with respect to thepanel body portion.
 11. The structure according to claim 1 wherein saidpanel body portion includes marginal frame members extending the heightof the body portion, guide means connected to the bottom edge seal meansand extending in juxtaposition to and sliding relation with associatedones of said frame members, and pin and slot means associated with theframe members and guide means for defining the limits of travel of thebottom edge seal with respect to the body portion.
 12. The structureaccording to claim 2 wherein said panel body portion includes marginalframe members extending the height of the body portion, guide meansconnected to the bottom edge seal means and extending in juxtapositionto and sliding relation with associated ones of said frame members, andpin and slot means associated with the frame members and guide means fordefining the limits of travel of the bottom edge seal with respect tothe body portion, wherein the bottom edge seal means includes a shell ofa generally U-shaped configuration as seen in a section view takennormal to the length of the seal means with the panel body arranged suchthat those portions of the latter which are lowermost when the panel isvertically disposed are embraced by said shell, with one each of saidguide means being associated with a respective one of the opposing endsof said shell.
 13. The structure according to claim 2 wherein sealingstrips are disposed along the edges of the panel which come, in use,into end engaging relation with other panels thereby to reduce thetransmission of sound therebetween.
 14. The combination of an overheadtrack and trolley arrangement and a series of space divider panelsvertically supported by said track and trolley arrangement, said panelsadapted to be brought into end engaging relation with one another toprovide a barrier against the transmission of sound from one region toanother, at least a plurality of said panels each comprising a panelbody portion of a sound insulating construction secured to and suspendedfrom the track and trolley arrangement and a bottom edge seal meansdisposed along the lowermost edge portion of the panel body portion; thebottom edge seal means including means for continually contacting thefloor surface and continuously supporting the bottom edge seal means onthe floor while permitting freedom of movement of the panel over thefloor as the panel is shifted along the overhead track assembly, thebottom edge seal means further being arranged such that it is free tomove up and down relative to its associated panel body portion inresponse to the floor surface contacting means encountering unevennessin the floor and/or lack of parallelism between the floor surface andthe overhead track arrangement, with the bottom edge seal means being soconstructed and being so related to the means for continually contactingthe floor surface that said bottom edge seal means continually bridgesand forms a sound barrier across the gap that would exist, in theabsence of the bottom edge seal, between said lowermost edge of thepanel body and the surface of the floor during said movement of thepanel along said overhead track assembly and means comprising aresilient elongated body of a sound absorbing or deadening materialdisposed between said panel body portion and the bottom edge seal meansand extending substantially the full length of the bottom edge sealmeans to urge the latter towards the floor surface.
 15. The structureaccording to claim 14 wherein said resilient body comprises spongy soundinsulating foam material.
 16. The structure according to claim 15wherein the means for continually contacting the floor surface comprisesmeans to rollingly support said bottom edge seal means on the floor. 17.The structure according to claim 14 wherein the panel body is ofgenerally planar configuration and includes opposing planar faces andwherein said bottom edge seal means includes portions extending inoverlapping relation with respect to portions of said planar faces andmovable with respect thereto, said portions extending in overlappingrelation having sound insulating material thereon thereby to reducesound transmission between said bottom edge seal means and the panelbody portion.
 18. The structure according to claim 14 wherein the panelbody is of generally planar configuration and includes opposing planarfaces and wherein said bottom edge seal means includes a shell of agenerally U-shaped configuration as seen in a section view taken normalto the length of the seal means with the panel body arranged such thatthose portions of the latter which are lowermost are over lapped andembraced by said shell said body of material being disposed between thelowermost edge of the panel body and a lower portion of the shell toform a sound insulating barrier therebetween.
 19. The structureaccording to claim 15 wherein the bottom edge seal means includes meansadapted to co-operate in telescoping relation with said edge of thepanel body which is lowermost.
 20. The structure according to claim 19wherein the means for contacting the floor surface comprises means torollingly support said bottom edge seal means on the floor.
 21. Thestructure according to claim 20 wherein said bottom edge seal meansincludes a shell of a generally U-shaped configuration as seen in asection taken normal to the length of the seal means with the panel bodyarranged such that those portions of the latter which are lowermost areembraced by said shell, said body of spongy foam material being disposedbetween the lowermost edge of the panel body and a lower portion of theshell to form a sound insulating barrier therebetween, said lowerportion of the shell having recesses therein within which the rollingbottom edge seal support means are partially disposed thus permittingsaid shell to be disposed closely to the floor surface to reduce soundtransmission therebetween and wherein said shell includes at least oneflexible sealing strip connected thereto and extending longitudinallythereof and disposed for engagement with a floor surface whereby tobridge the remaining gap between the floor surface and the lowermostportions of the shell when the panel is in its upright assembledcondition.
 22. The structure according to claim 14 wherein the bottomedge seal means includes at least one flexible sealing strip connectedthereto and extending longitudinally thereof and disposed for engagementwith the floor surface when the panel is in its upright assembledcondition.
 23. The structure according to claim 15 wherein said bottomedge seal means includes guide means associated therewith, said panelbody portion having means associated therewith receiving said guidemeans for up and down movement of the latter with respect thereto, andstop means associated with said guide means to define the limits oftravel of the guide means and bottom edge seal means with respect to thepanel body portion.
 24. The structure according to claim 14 wherein saidpanel body portion includes marginal frame members extending the heightof the body portion, guide means connected to the bottom edge seal meansand extending in juxtaposition to and sliding relation with associatedones of said frame members, and pin and slot means associated with theframe members and guide means for defining the limits of travel of thebottom edge seal with respect to the body portion.
 25. The struCtureaccording to claim 15 wherein said panel body portion includes marginalframe members extending the height of the body portion, guide meansconnected to the bottom edge seal means and extending in juxtapositionto and sliding relation with associated ones of said frame members, andpin and slot means associated with the frame members and guide means fordefining the limits of travel of the bottom edge seal with respect tothe body portion, wherein the bottom edge seal means includes a shell ofa generally U-shaped configuration as seen in a section taken normal tothe length of the seal means with the panel body arranged such thatthose portions of the latter which are lowermost are embraced by saidshell, with one each of said guide means being associated with arespective one of the opposing ends of said shell.
 26. The structureaccording to claim 15 wherein sealing strips are disposed along theedges of the panel which come, in use, into end engaging relation withother panels thereby to reduce the transmission of sound therebetween.